Sydney Siege

This past Monday and Tuesday were horribly tragic for the city of Sydney. While tragedy unfortunately happens everywhere, and quite often (especially being from the US), this event was simply different. The main thing I couldn't get over when I first came to Sydney was how SAFE I felt here. Last summer I traveled through the Mediterranean and constantly felt that I was being targeting for pick pocketing (actually happened in Malta) and that I couldn't trust anyone. Sydney is different. Everyone is seriously so friendly here in the city and I honestly felt I could trust anyone with anything. I don't even feel as safe in the US as I do here which kind of says a lot being that that's my home. Strangers are just genuinely nice to you here.
Monday I had my normal breakfast shift at work. I was doing closing duties when I overheard my manager mention a 'hostage situation'. I then received several texts from my roommate warning me not to walk through downtown on my way home because of a gunman holding hostages in a chocolate cafe. My hotel is located in Darling Harbour which is just outside the city center, but still pretty close. When the managers came and told me and my fellow worker to stop what we were doing and to evacuate, I knew this situation had gotten a lot more serious. We were briefed on the situation at the hotel next door, and were told to lock all the doors to the hotel besides the front, and also to tell guests that if they don't need to leave the hotel that day, then they should stay put. Many workers were worried about how they would get home to their families since they live outside the city and most transportation had been shut down. Having this explained to me at work made me a bit nervous being so far away from home, not having any of my friends or family here, and realizing that this actually was an incredibly serious situation. It was comforting having my boss check in with me about the route I would take to walk back to my apartment being that I live in the city. I called and checked in with both my parents around 11:30 am Sydney time, surprised to find out neither of them had heard of the situation going on. The next few hours that definitely changed though because people kept checking in with me shocked and worried about my safety (thanks y'all). We had the news on for a solid 9 hours straight and didn't move from the living room. While I felt so much safer being in my apartment with my roommate, and that I was a good 8 blocks away, I couldn't stop worrying about the four 'packages' dropped around the city. I live in the city. For all I knew, it could be right around the corner from me.
As I said before, these horrible events aren't that rare in the US. Two years ago almost to the day Sandy Hook happened. I remember everything about that day, being at UD after our finals had finished, spending time with my roommate while campus was deserted. We stayed the whole day in her bed just shocked at the news that was unfolding across the country. And then of course 9/11, but I was only in fourth grade and it was a bit hard to grasp. This situation was different. I've never been so close to a terror crime. The attack could have easily been on one of the places I frequent for my cup of coffee or god forbid a grocery store or mall or something. Bad things happen everywhere. There's honestly no 'safe' place in this world, as sad as that is. Unfortunately bad people are everywhere, no matter how many good people there are, it just takes one messed up person to completely change people's lives for the worst. The news kept talking about how these things don't happen in Australia because they are so far away from everything and are surrounded by water. I could understand exactly what they meant. Just being here the past 6 weeks I have never felt so safe. I relate with the Australian people now. Even though I'm still new to this country, I feel as if this is a personal attack on my people. I've never felt so accepted before in a foreign place, and it's absolutely horrible that this happened here. Walking back from work to my apartment that day, and then walking to my friends apartment later that night, you could just tell the mood of the city was different. The city was eerily deserted. People weren't smiling per the usual, some were crying, others on the phone with loved ones, shops shut early. Everyone's thoughts and minds were on those poor hostages being held in that cafe.
16 hours being held in that cafe with a crazed gunman...could you imagine? The terror would be unreal for even one hour...but 16!? Insane. Absolutely insane. Two lost their lives. It's absolutely horrible and unjust. I still can't believe everything that has unfolded. And how fortunate I am that it wasn't me. I don't believe in luck, but I am very thankful I had my job that morning, keeping me away from the 'wrong place' at the 'wrong time'.
Seeing the memorial of flowers started for all the victims and their families is truly heartwarming. Tragedy brings people together. We are all human at the end of the day, no matter all our differences and where we may come from. Everyone knows heartbreak and we take comfort in having one another to turn to. There really is nothing more we can do now besides appreciating the people in our lives and being as kind hearted as we possibly can to one another. As I watched a street performer yesterday, he explained he doesn't normally do Wednesday shows, but that Sydney really needed a laugh right about now. I teared up along with most people in the crowd. A horrible thing has happened, but we are still here. We are okay, and we will get through this.

Playsuits, Goon, and Lost Phones

I apologize in advance for being all over the place. I posted about a week ago but the time frame jumps around and is a hot mess. My bad. So I’ve officially been in Sydney for almost a month now! It’s so crazy how fast time is already flying by. I love this city so much. My perfect day here is getting out of work and exploring the Darling Harbour and just wandering around in the sun. Or going to Bondi or Coogee beach with new friends. It really is amazing here.

Nights out at Side Bar

This past Thursday was Thanksgiving which was really hard to get through. We did bring an apple pie over to our friends place for a mini-celebration. While I am loving it here and everything, it’s still hard thinking that life back home is going on without me. FOMO to the max. It also doesn’t help that I can’t find/misplaced/lost my American phone…if you’re reading this Dad sorry I’ll call you soon (may want to cancel my service). So now I just have my Australian dinky phone which doesn’t let me imessage or viber or anything. Not to mention I’ve already recharged my data 5 times in less than a month…whoops!

These past couple weeks I’ve been going out a lot more and have been having so much fun! Met even more amazing people as well! Alcohol is crazy expensive here, like $35 for a fifth of Smirnoff and $55 for a fifth of fireball…so I’ve been getting the cheapest possible alcohol. Here their version of Franzia is called Goon. People think its horrible, but at $11 for 5 liters of wine…I am perfectly fine with it. Burnetts has trained me well in cheap alcohol. I introduced my hostel room to the game of fours and OMG they loved it!!! The things people had to do…LOL. Definitely made me think of UD and all our shenanigans.

The hardest part is meeting new friends in the hostel, becoming super close since we’re together basically 24/7, and then them leaving. While some people in the hostel are here with hopes of finding an apartment and a job and settling in Sydney, a ton of people are just here as a stop on their way in their Australian travels. It’s really hard knowing when you meet someone they are a ‘temporary’ friend. I’m getting more used to it though and just trying to appreciate the little amount of time I have with people and to make the most of it.

For work I’ve started taking on more responsibilities and also have began working night functions in addition to my breakfast shifts. Best part about work is that I get free breakfast (chef makes the most amazing mushrooms) and coffee! I’m still sticking to eating sushi practically everyday. Can’t. Get. Enough. Oh and I tried vegemite! You’ve got to spread it with butter on toast though or the vegemite is too overpowering. It was actually fine! Most people dislike it because it's so salty.

People are absolutely fascinated by my accent haha. I mainly have ben hanging out with people from England and surprisingly have a very difficult time understanding what in the world they are saying. I’ve learned that they have a ton of vocabulary words that simply do not exist in the states. And also different names for the same things. Apparently everyone else calls rompers playsuits! How fun!

Things in Australia just make sense. You get paid high wages during the week, and even higher or Saturday and even higher on Sundays because you are giving up your weekend. I personally love working the weekends simply for making that much more money. Bars here have a lockout at 1:30 meaning you can’t get in anywhere after 1:30 (it sucks but it’s smart). They also aren’t afraid to cut you off in the bar and only serve you water (may or not have personal experience lolz). Everything has a purpose and I agree with it all so far. Another example is that the light rail that I take to work was being worked on this weekend so I had to take the replacement bus. Being that they believe we are being inconvenienced by the change from rail to bus, they didn’t charge at all this weekend for transportation! Little things like that just make me love this place.

Amazing friend Sarah from England, miss you!

We get to move into our apartment in a few days on Thursday. I am honestly SO excited. Every time we get a new hostel roommate they are always shocked to find out that all the bags and suitcases on the floor belong to me. I seriously have a mountain of clothes and it just keeps growing. I need a closet ASAP. Lexi and I have the master suite in the apartment, and then there are two doubles. Two late twenties British guys are already living in one double, and the other double is still up for rent. Hoping our roommates are cool and like going out and are fun! I’m also so excited to have a kitchen so I can cook (aka cereal and soup) and not waste money on eating out. I seriously just spent $16 at Mad Mex (Australia’s version of Chipotle) on a burrito, chips, and a drink. Da fuq. The hard thing about moving out of Wake Up is that I’m afraid I won’t meet people. Wake Up makes it so incredibly easy to meet people around my age that have the same mind set as me regarding travelling. Recently I’ve met and hung out with a lot of 30 year olds/ late twenties and they seriously have impressed me so much. They didn’t act too mature to hang with a 22 year old. They were all single and loving life. None were married, had kids, or in a serious relationship. They were focusing on doing what made them happy and that was traveling. It just kind of reassures me that just because I’m doing something different than what most people would do after college, doesn’t mean I’m doing something wrong. People keep telling me how they wish they would have done what I’m doing at my age and not have waited so long. I’m seriously so happy I made this decision. I’m supporting myself and it’s really such a great feeling. Being here pushes me to do things I normally would be too afraid to do back home. Yesterday I managed to find two buses to take to the beach about a half hour away all on my own! Back home I would’ve just driven…I couldn’t imagine trying to figure out the bus situation back home.

View from work at the Darling Harbour

I will hopefully figure out my phone situation soon so that way I can keep in touch with people again (free wifi in apartment starting Thursday THANK GOD). Until then facebook is still the best way to get ahold of me. I know I’ve been bad at updating, but bottom line I’m having so much fun and meeting so many amazing people and LOVE this city. Miss you babesters so much! Please feel free to message me and update me about YOUR life haha I wish everyone could just have a blog for an easy way to stay updated. I promise I’ll post pictures soon too, I’m so behind with everything! Hopefully the next update will be soon after I move into the apartment so I can post pictures! How the f do you close out blog posts..I just keep writing aka rambling.  Trying to resist typing ‘Until Next Time!’ lolz bye babes.

Amazing view for pre-drinks with my girl Lexi